Eric Herbert one of the 23 people arrested at Port Botany protest

A man who was arrested for disrupting a coal rail line in the Hunter is one of the 23 people arrested over the Port Botany protests. It comes as NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb labelled the crowd “professional protesters”.

• 23 protesters charged after rally

Serial protester Eric Herbert is among the dozens of activists arrested at an ugly pro-Palestine clash at Port Botany last night.

Hebert was one of 23 activists arrested overnight when the protest, aimed at delaying the unloading of a freight ship owned by Israeli company ZIM, spilt onto the streets.

Herbert has made headlines in recent years as a member of environmental activist group Blockade Australia.

In June, he pleaded guilty to a series of offences including obstructing a rail locomotive over protest action to disrupt Newcastle’s coal industry in 2021.

While a conviction was recorded against him, no further penalty was imposed.

Eric Herbert was arrested at the proetst in Botany. Picture: John Grainger

The unauthorised protest at Port Botany overnight. Picture: Twitter

Police have been accused of using “heavy-handed” tactics when arresting and charging more than 20 demonstrators at an unauthorised pro-Palestine protest at Port Botany overnight.

It comes after NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb has blamed a large number of “professional protesters” for ugly scenes erupting around Port Botany on Tuesday night which resulted in 23 arrests being made.

Speaking the morning after the rowdy protest spilt over on the streets around Port Botany last night, the Commissioner claimed regular protesters were among those blocking the de-loading of a freight ship from the Israeli-company ZIM.

“I would say broadly that most or a great large number were professional protesters who currently are protesting about the Gaza conflict but next week, they’ll probably protest about something else,” she said.

The Commissioner wouldn’t be drawn on what groups were involved, telling reporters: “If you go to court when they go to court, you will be able to discern that for yourself.”

Premier Chris Minns said he completely rejected any suggestion police were heavy-handed at the protest.

NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb claimed the people causing problems were ‘professional protesters’. Picture: Nikki Short

“It was only after ample time was given to the protesters to leave the roadway and allow commerce to transact in that port where arrests affected now I think any reasonable person would say once you stack up that chronology, police acted completely responsibly,” he said.

The Premier wouldn’t be drawn on the support of various unions for the protest.

Premier Chris Minns dismissed suggestions police were heavy-handed. Picture: Nikki Short

That included the Sydney Branch of the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA), which posted on their Facebook last night: “The Palestinian community have closed the access to the Israeli-owned Zim vessel in Port Botany. Palestine must be free. Ceasefire now”.

In response to being questioned whether he or any of his Ministers would talk to the MUA, Mr Minns said: “There are laws on the books, protest is legal but you are not entitled to breach laws in this state (and I) fully support the New South Wales Police. This is a combustible situation. It is very difficult, no city in the world is managing it perfectly”.

“Police have affected arrests and I need to leave that to the courts to make that decision,” he said.